Filament-handling device and method



1963 s. 1.. HALENAR ETAL 3,079,078

FILAMENT-HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1er /(201M, i542 W ATTORNEYS.

1963 s. L. HALENAR ETAL 3, 9,

FILAMENT-HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet;

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 26, 1963 s. L. HALENAR ETAL 3,079,078

FILAMENT-HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Q 472 4/) 39) u u 4% v 1 l l l 5 I I |41 I w MM].

l I l in i I. 8 I 11: Misti}! l I! I II I l l l L|-Wf f 38 L L 5* 6/ g 1fa/g5 I ATTORNEYS.

nite States ate This invention relates to a filament-handling device andmethod and can be used to provide either a count of the total number offilaments included in a given group, or in separating a predeterminednumber of filaments from a group containing a larger number.

This invention can be practiced in the handling of many types offilaments which may be considered slender, elongated, tubular members.Filaments may be constructed of various materials, both metallic andnonmetallic, such as plastics and animal tissues. In industrialoperations, it is often important to separate and align filaments aswell as count them. In all of these instances, there are problems whichcan be articulated in terms of a particular type of filament for whichthis invention can be used especially satisfactorily-that type beingsutures.

Sutures are thread-like members, generally of rather small diameter andconsiderable length, which are used by surgeons in closing incisions,and the like. It is estimated that millions of these sutures, eachgenerally about twenty to sixty inches long, are used each year. In theproduction of sutures, it has been found desirable to separate them intogroups for further processing. Until the advent of our invention, nosatisfactory mechanical means was available for providing sutures insuch batches, or, for that matter, counting the number of sutures in abatch which had already been set aside. It is to be appreciated thatthere might arise a question as to exactly how many sutures are in agiven batch. The mechanical 6X- pedients advanced heretofore for solvingthis problem have uniformly been less satisfactory than the countingprovided by humans manually separating and counting the sutures. Whenseveral hundred sutures are included in a group or batch, it is furtherto be appreciated that it is relatively easy for a person counting themto make an error, especially since the sutures are identical and henceindistinguishable one from the other.

It is therefore, a general purpose of this invention to i provide anovel means for handling filaments. A further general object is toprovide a novel method for the handling of filaments in which thefilaments are oriented with intermediate portions thereof insubstantially parallel relation in a common plane, and thereafteradvancing the portions so arranged sequentially through a gas stream.Another object is to provide a filament-handling device that uniformlygives greater accuracy in the counting of filaments than that previouslyexperienced. Still another object is to provide a filament-handlingdevice capable of separating a predetermined number of filamerits from amore numerous group. Yet another object is to provide a novelfilament-handling device which incorporates means for warning anattendant shortly prior to the separation of the last filament of apredetermined number from a more numerous group of filaments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a filament-handlingdevice incorporating means for advancing filaments singly past acounting station. A still further object is to provide afilament-handling device in which means are provided for advancingfilaments singly past a counting station and in which means areassociated with the station responsive to the passing therethrough of afilament. Yet a further object is to provide, in a device of thecharacter described in the object set forth immediately above,tabulating means for the signals produced by the signal-producing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel filament-handlingdevice which incorporates an adjustable gap adapted to pass but onefilament at a time therethrough, along with means sensitive to suchpassage for indicating the number of filaments passing through the gap.Another object, in a device of the character described in the objectimmediately preceding, is to provide means for advancing filamentsthrough the gap along with means for blocking further advancement offilaments whenever a predetermined number have passed through the gap.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a novelfilament-handling device in which means are provided for advancingfilaments singly past a counting station, signal-producing meansassociated with the station which are responsive to the passing throughthe station of a filament, and means associated with thesignal-producing means for halting the advancing means whenever thepassage of a predetermined number of filaments past the counting stationhas occurred. A further object is to provide, in a filament-handlingdevice, an adjustable gap that permits the passage therethrough of butone filament at a time, along with means for feeding single filamentsthrough the gap, means sensitive to the passage of filaments through thegap, and check means preventing the return through the sensitive means.Another object is to provide a filament-handling device which isespecially adapted for handling sutures. Other objects and advantages ofthis invention can be seen as this specification proceeds.

This invention will be explained in an illustrative embodiment inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is anelevational view of a machine embodying teachings of this invention andincluding a filamenthandling portion and a tabulating portion; FIG. 2 isan enlarged end view, partially in section, of the filamenthandlingportion of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken alongline 3--3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view takenalong the line 44 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view ofthe adjustable gap portion of the filament-handling device seen in thecentral portion of FIG. 3 and which view corresponds to across-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 7; FIG. 6 is a viewsimilar to FIG. 5 but showing the parts thereof in different operatingconditions; FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary internal plan View of thefilament-handling portion of the device; FIG. 8 is a fragmentarysectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is an enlargedsectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 3; and FIG. 10 is aschematic diagram of the electrical controls of the inventive machine.

In the illustration given, the numeral 10 (see FIG. 1) designatesgenerally a machine or device adapted to handle filaments and which isconstructed according to the teachings of this invention. The device 10includes a filament-handling portion 11 and a tabulating or countingportion 12. It is to be appreciated that portions 11 and 12 are of somesize and require support upon tables or platforms not shown. The twoportions 11 and 12 are connected by an electrical cable 13.

It is believed that a brief description of the operation of the deviceIt) would be helpful in understanding the interrelationship of partsthereof to be set forth in greater detail hereinafter. For this purpose,the following description is set forth, using sutures as the specific:type of filament handled.

In PEG. 1, the numeral 14 designates a gap provided by abutment means inthe form of a base 15 and a shoe 16 lmovably positioned above the base.The gap 14 is adapted to receive a group of strands or filaments such assutures which are not shown in FIG. 1. The sutures are a spread out uponthe base and moved into the most constricted portion of the gap, wherethey fall under the iniluence of an air jet. The air jet forces strandssingly through the most constricted portion of the gap and through aphotoelectric beam. The photoelectric beam, being interrupted by thepassage of, a single suture, yields a signal which is transmittedthrough cable 13 to tabulating portion 12. For this purpose, a countersuch as Model 651 of the Potter Instrument Co., Inc., of Flushing, NewYork, may be used. Portion 12 provides either a total count of allsutures in a given bundle, or-permits the separation therefrom of apredetermined smaller number.

Should it be necessary to ascertain the total number of sutures in agiven batch, the tabulating portionyields.

the desired information by means of a mechanical register 17 whichprovides counts in terms of hundreds. The register 17 may be reset tozero through the employment of a knurled reset wheel 13. The numeral 19designates eight neon glow bulbs which give the exact fraction of onehundred sutures that have been counted in the machine. The left-handcolumn of bulbs indicates tens of sutures counted, while the right-handgroup indicates units. In element 12, the numeral 20 designates. a mainpower switch, and the number 21 a light indicating whether power is onor ed. The numerals 22 and 22a designate reset buttons for the counterand the neon lamps 1'9 which derive signals from the counter. Thenumeral 23 designates a switch which, in one position, permits the totalnumber of sutures in a group to be counted, and in the other positionpermits a predetermined smaller number to be counted out of a largergroup of sutures. For the last-mentioned operation, a selector switch 24is provided which can be set to the desired predetermined number. Theswitch designated 25 operates as an on-oif switch to step furtheroperation of the counter portion 12, the filament-handling portion 11still operating.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the numeral 26 designates generally a frame forportion 11 of machine 10. The frame 26 is narrow, as can be appreciatedfrom a consideration of FIG. 2. Frame 26 includes vertical frame members27 and 28 which are on the right and left sides of FIG. 2, respectively.'Frame members 27 and 28 are maintained in spaced relation by channel 29and spacers 29:: (best seen in FIG. 4). Channel 29, spacers 29a, andright and left-hand vertical frame members 27 and 28 are securedtogether by means of dowels 30 and cap screws 31 (best seen in FIGS. 3and 4).

The numeral 32 designates a transversely disposed stabilizing leg whichis secured to the rearward end portions of right and left-hand framemembers 27 and 28. The numerals 33 and 34 (best seen in FIG. 3)designate a top cover and a front cover, respectively, for frame 26 andwhich further cooperate with channel 29 in maintaining vertical framemembers 27 and 28 in spaced relation.

The numeral 35 designates a top plate which is disposed parallel to topcover 33 but spaced below the cover and which also operates to maintainvertical frame members 27 and 28 in spaced relation. Top plate 35 isprovided with a longitudinally-extending slot 36 in the top surfacethereof (best seen in FIG. 2) which receives base 15 previouslydescribed. Base 15 is made up of the following elements which aresecured together and which can be seen in cross-sectional view in FIG.2: a central bar member 37, right and left plates 38 and 39,respectively, and right and left shields 4t) and 41, respectively. Therole of the made-up base can be appreciated from a consideration ofFIGS. 7 and 8, particularly FIG. 8, where finger 42 can be pivotedupwardly in recess 41a and through slot 41b in shield 41 to blockfurther passage of sutures along base 15. The position of finger 42 insuch an operation can be seen in FIG. 6. The means for securing thevarious elements (designated by the numerals 37-41, inclusive) of base15 together, can be seen in FIG. 7 in the form of cap screws 43.

Base 15, and more specifically bar 37, provides a pair of air channels44 herein terminating in a jet or orifice 45, all of which can bereadily seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. Attached to the bottom of bar 37, as seenin FIG. 3, is a compressed air line 46, which is connected to a sourceof compressed air (not shown) through a solenoid valve 47 and a hose 48.Orifice 45 is provided by adjusting block 49 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) from bar37, block 45 being secured to bar 37 by cap screws 50. The spacedreintionship between block 49 and bar 37 providing orifice 25 can beadjusted through adjusting screw 51, which is mounted in a depending lug52 of bar 37 and whichat.-

one end is threadedly received in block 49.

The base 15 is completed by providing at the throat or rearward endthereof a second block 53 which is positionably mounted on member 54(see FIG. 3). Member 54 in turn is secured to frame 26 by means of capscrews 55, which are threadedly received in suitable openings in theleft and right vertical frame members 27 and 26, respectively. Thesecond block 53 cooperates with the first block 49 to provide a secondadjustable opening 56,-

asbest seen in FIG. 5, and which permits a photoelectric beam to passfrom a sender 57 to a receiver 53, both of which are secured in channel2?, as seen in FIG. 3. Thus, for smaller diameter sutures, opening 56can be reducedin width so that a small diameter suture will effectivelyinterrupt the light beam.

Associated with finger 42 which is positioned on the left side of themachine, is a second finger 59, the disposition ofwhich can beappreciated from a consideration of FIG. 9. The two fingers are providedas part of a finger body 60, seen best in FIGS. 3 and 9 and shown inenlarged section in FIG. 8. Finger body 66 is pivotally mounted in yoke61, as at 61a, yoke 61 in turn being supported on a bracket 61b securedto vertical frame member 28. The numeral 62 designates a bracket whichis secured to the end of body 66 opposite that equipped with fingers 4'2and 59, and is best seen in FIG. 3. Bracket 62 is provided with a slotwhich receives the ends of armature arms 63, the armature being part ofsolenoid 64. Solenoid 64 is suitably mounted on frame 26. Movement ofthe armature arm 63 by solenoid 64 causes a rocking motion of body 60and thereby pivots fingers 42 and 55 upwardly or downwardly, as the casemay be. The numeral 65 (seen only in FIG. 2) designates a stop orlimiting member for the movement of body 66. Urging body 69, andtherefore fingers 42 and 59, to a retracted position with respect tobase 15, is spring 66, connected at one end to bracket 62 and at itsother end to top plate 35, as seen in FIG. 3.

The shoe 16, as seen in FIG. 3, is shown secured to a stud 67 which isslidably mounted in a sleeve bearing or bushing 68. Bushing 68 iscarried in an annular recess: in block 69', block 69 being secured toframe 2(- by suit able bolts. Carried by block 69 is a gauge 70, whichhas a sensing member 7611 bearing against the upper machine surface 67aof stud 67 to indicate the spacing between. base 15 and shoe 16.

A second block 71 is secured to block 69 and provides a mounting spacefor adjusting ring 72. Ring 72 is internally threaded and engages malethreads 67]) of stud 67. This permits the vertical positioning of stud67 and thereby the positioning of shoe 16 with respect to base 15. Stud67 is held in position by lock screw 73, which is threadedly carried byblock 69 and which bears against stud 67, as seen in FIG. 3.

A second lock screw 74 (seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) fixes the position ofshoe 16 laterally of the machine. Shoe 16 is laterally movable withrespect to stud 67 by virtue of the slots 75 provided in shoe 16 andwhich receive cap screws 76 threadedly carried by stud 67, shown only inFIG. 3. The lock screw 74 is mounted in block 71 and bears against shoe16 to immobilize it in a desired position laterally of the machine, asseen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The numeral 77 designates a guard housing mounted on frame 26 which ispositioned about the light beam provided by sender 57. Secured tohousing 77 is guard member 78. Guard member 78 is so mounted as to bepositioned on one side of slot 56 and thereby not interrupt the lightbeam passing from sender 57 to receiver 58. Guard member 78 operates toprevent the return of a suture which would otherwise re-interrupt thebeam of light and give a false reading.

It is believed that a further description of the operation of the deviceherein described will be helpful in appreciating the interrelationshipof the parts.

When, for example, it is desired to isolate a predetermined number ofsutures from a larger numbered group, the machine is set into operationas previously described, that is, switch 20 is placed in the Onposition, providing power to both portions 11 and 12, as indicated byindicator light 21. Switch 23 is placed in a position for apredetermined count, the exact number to be isolated being set onselector switch 24. Switch 25 is positioned so as to permit asignal tobe transmitted to solenoids 47 and 64 when the predetermined number ofsutures has passed through the light beam.

The machine can then be adjusted for the particular size of suture to becounted. Sutures ordinarily are providcd in a number of diameters suchas are set forth in the following table:

Nonboilable Polishing U.S.P. Sizes: Diameter in mils 6-0 4.3 5-0 6.5 4-08.5 3-0 11.2 2-0 14.1 16.8 1 19.8 2 22.8 3 25.8

The specifications for sutures permit of a variation of .2 mils, plus orminus. From the foregoing table, it is to be seen that the differentsized sutures are, therefore, not overlapping because of the tolerance.When a given size of suture is to be counted, lock screw 73 is loosenedand adjusting ring 72 is turned until the proper reading on gauge 70 isachieved, gauge 70 being calibrated in mils. Thereafter, lock screw 73is again tightened and shoe 16 is properly spaced from base 15.

With the device in this condition, the operator places a group ofsutures on base 15 so that the sutures are positioned as shown in FIG.5. A slight pressure on the group of sutures feeds them singly in thegap between shoe 16 and base 15, whereupon a jet of air issuing fromorifice 45 kicks one suture at a time through the light beam indicatedby arrows on FIGS. 5 and 6. Thereafter, the suture passes through theslot defined by guard member 78 and block 53, the guard memberpreventing return of a suture through the light beam. Normally, suturesfall into the notched-out portion 53a of block 53, as seen in FIG. 6. Itis to be appreciated that because of the length of the sutures handled,each being up to five feet in length, it is possible that only thecentral portion of the length of a suture might be passed through thelight beam so that the ends would tend to bring this central portionback through the light beam if guard member '73 were not there toprevent this.

Where, for example, it is desired to separate 4% sutures from a groupcontaining a larger number, when about 390 have been separated, awarning light 79 actuated by counter portion 12 indicates to theoperator that the end of the predetermined count is approaching. Whenthe 400th suture has passed through the light beam, a signal is sent bycounter portion 12 to solenoids 47 and 64. Solenoid 47 operates to closeoff the flow of compressed air to orifice 45, and solenoid 64 operatesto pivot fingers 42 and 59 into a position blocking further 6 passage ofsutures through the gap between shoe 16 and base 15.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, the portions 11 and 12 are connected to asource of electricity V. A main switch 20 and an indicating light 21 areprovided in the power line leading to the portions 11 and 12, and aseparate switch 25 is interposed in the power line so as to permitoperation of the portion 11 independently of the operation of theportion 12, as pointed out previously. In other words, the thinfilament-handling portion is operative independently of the counterportion 12. The filament-handling portion 11 receives power to actuatethe sender 57 and receiver 58. It will be appreciated that switch 20 canalso power any necessary valves for supplying air to the orifice 45.

Also, as pointed out previously, the switch 23 within the counterportion 12 may be placed in one position designated C so as to permitthe counting of a total number of sutures in a group. In the alternativeposition of switch 23, the alternative position being designated S, aseparate electronic circuit (not shown) is actuated for the counting orseparation of a portion of a larger group of filaments. When thepredetermined number of filaments had been counted, a switch 24, set tothe predetermined number, is actuated to permit how of current to thesolenoids 47 and 64 (see FIG. 3), which shut oif the accelerating airand position the fingers 42 and 59 in blocking position, respectively.

While in the foregoing specification we have set forth a specificembodiment of our invention in considerable detail, it will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in thedetails set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. In a filament-handling device,

(A) a frame providing a platform,

(B) a shoe adjustably mounted on said frame above said platform andcooperating with said platform to provide an elongated, generallyhorizontal slot adapted to pass one filament at a time,

(C) guard means mounted on said frame rearward of said shoe and abovesaid platform,

(D) a block adjustably attached to said platform below said guard means,said shoe, guard means, block and platform all cooperating to provide aconfined, generally smooth path for filament travel, with said block andplatform cooperating to define a light slit,

(E) a light positioned in line with said slit,

(F) air blast means in said platform under said shoe for accelerating afilament to expel the same from said slot,

(G) signal-producing means between said shoe and guard means responsiveto the interruption of said light by an accelerated filament, and

(H) counting means coupled to said signal-producing means.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said block and said platform undersaid guard means are equipped with top surfaces angling downwardly inthe direction of filament travel.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said block is equipped with a notchto receive filaments issuing from said slot.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said counting means is equippedwith means for recording the number of filaments passing saidsignal-producing means.

5. In a filament-handling device,

(A) a frame providing a platform,

(B) a shoe adjustably mounted on said frame above said platform andcooperating with said platform to provide an elongated, generallyhorizontal slot adapted to pass one filament at a time,

(C) guard means mounted on said frame rearward of said shoe and abovesaid platform,

(D) a block adjustably attached to said platform below said guard means,said shoe, guard means, block and platform all cooperating to provide aconfined, generally smooth path for filament travel, with said block andplatform cooperating to define a light slit,

(E) a light positioned in line with said slit,

(F) air blast means in said platform under said shoe for accelerating afilament to expel the same from said slot,

(G) signal-producing means between said shoe and guard means responsiveto the interruption of said light by an accelerated filament, and

'(H) tabulating means coupled to said signal-producing means, saidtabulating means being equipped with means for halting furtheradvancement of filaments by said accelerating means whenever apredetermined number of signals has been received by said tabulatingmeans.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said halting means includes fingermeans pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into the path of afilament being accelerated by said air blast means.

7. The structure of claim 5 in which said filamenthalting means includesvalvemeans for stopping the passage of air through said air blast means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Potter Instrument Co. publication received April 19,

1951, Controlling Machines With Electronic Counters g and TypicalApplications (pages 13-16 and 24 relied

1. IN A FILAMENT-HANDLING DEVICE, (A) A FRAME PROVIDING A PLATFORM, (B) A SHOE ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ABOVE SAID PLATFORM AND COOPERATING WITH SAID PLATFORM TO PROVIDE AN ELONGATED, GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SLOT ADAPTED TO PASS ONE FILAMENT AT A TIME, (C) GUARD MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME REARWARD OF SAID SHOE AND ABOVE SAID PLATFORM, (D) A BLOCK ADJUSTABLY ATTACHED TO SAID PLATFORM BELOW SAID GUARD MEANS, SAID SHOE, GUARD MEANS, BLOCK AND PLATFORM ALL COOPERATING TO PROVIDE A CONFINED, GENERALLY SMOOTH PATH FOR FILAMENT TRAVEL, WITH 